No. 51 Squadron IAF

No. 51 Squadron
File:This is a logo for No. 51 Squadron IAF.jpg
Active	1 February 1985 – 30 September 2022
Country	Republic of India
Branch	Indian Air Force
Role	Fighter
Garrison/HQ	Srinagar AFS
Nickname(s)	Sword Arms
Motto(s)	Yudhya Mahaspara Bhayankara which means "valour for victory"

No. 51 Squadron "Sword Arms" is a fighter squadron of Indian air force, based in Srinagar Air Force Station. The squadron is under the western command of Indian Air Force.

History

No.51 Squadron was initially raised in AFS Chandigarh in 1985, then being equipped with Mig-21 Type 75 variant which later went on to be upgraded to the Mig-21 Bison variant. The squadron was shortly relocated to AFS Srinagar.

The squadron was number-plated by 30 September, 2022.

Notable Incidents

On 27 February 2019, the squadron was sent in to intercept Pakistani fighter jets who were executing Operation Swift Retort, though the pilots of the squadron showed unwillingness to take off in their vintage Mig-21s in fear of being shot down by Pakistani JF-17s and F-16s. However a single pilot named Abhinandan Varthaman did scramble to intercept Pakistani aircraft who were participating in the airstrikes but In the ensuing dogfight, he crossed into Pakistani airspace in Sabzkot sector where he was shot down by a PAF F16. Though the IAF claims that they also shot down a PAF F-16 but has no evidence to support this claim. Abhinandan after getting hit, safely ejected and descended in the village of Horran in Pakistan administered Kashmir, approximately 7km from the Line of Control.

According to local villager, Varthaman could be identified as an Indian pilot by the Indian flag on his parachute. Upon landing, Varthaman asked the villagers if he was in India to which one of the quick thinking boy said yes. Abhinandhan then responded with Indian slogans. When he unbuckled himself from the parachute, the villagers suddenly shouted "Pakistan Zindabad" and started chasing him. Varthman ran for approximately 500 metres while constantly firing warning shots at the villagers to a small pond, where he attempted to sink and swallow some of his documents. Subsequently, he was captured and manhandled by the villagers before being rescued by the Pakistan Army.

Later that day, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs claimed that IAF had shot down a Pakistani F-16 and an Indian pilot was missing in action after a MiG-21 Bison fighter plane was lost while engaging with Pakistani jets. Flt Chirag chaudhary was an officer from this sqn who was awarded Vayu Sena medal for his role in a counter insurgency operation the officer is relived from the service on medical grounds in year 2022

Aircraft

Aircraft	From	To	Air Base
MiG-21 Bis	1 February 1985	January 2004	AFS Chandigarh
MiG-21 Bison	January 2004	30 September 2022	AFS Srinagar